United  War  Work  Campaig 

I 

Letter  of  president  Wilson 

"The  White  House, 
"Washington,  Sept.  3,  1918. 

"My  Dear  Mr.  Fosdick: 

"May  I  not  call  your  attention  to  a  matter  which  has  been  recently 
engaging  my  thought  not  a  little? 

"The  War  Department  has  recognized  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation, the  Young  Women's  Christian  Association,  the  National  Catholic 
War  Council  [Knights  of  Columbus],  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  the  War 
Camp  Community  Service,  the  American  Library  Association,  and  the  Salva- 
tion Army  as  accepted  instrumentalities  through  which  the  men  in  the  ranks 
are  to  be  assisted  in  many  essential  matters  of  recreation  and  morale. 

"It  was  evident  from  the  first,  and  has  become  increasingly  evident,  that 
the  services  rendered  by  these  agencies  to  our  army  and  to  our  allies  are 
essentially  one  and  all  of  a  kind  and  must  of  necessity,  if  well  rendered,  be  ren- 
dered in  the  closest  co-operation.  It  is  my  judgment,  therefore,  that  we  shall 
secure  the  best  results  in  the  matter  of  the  support  of  these  agencies,  if  these 
seven  societies  will  unite  their  forthcoming  appeals  for  funds,  in  order  that  the 
spirit  of  the  country  in  this  matter  may  be  expressed  without  distinction  of  race 
or  religious  opinion  in  support  of  what  is  in  reality  a  common  service. 

"This  point  of  view  is  sustained  by  the  necessity,  which  the  war  has 
forced  upon  us,  of  limiting  our  appeals  for  funds  in  such  a  way  that  two 
or  three  comprehensive  campaigns  shall  take  the  place  of  a  series  of  inde- 
pendent calls  upon  the  generosity  of  the  country. 

"Will  you  not,  therefore,  as  Chairman  of  the  Commission  on  Training 
Camp  Activities,  be  good  enough  to  request  the  societies  in  question  to  com- 
bine their  approaching  appeals  for  funds  in  a  single  campaign,  preferably 
during  the  week  of  Nov.  11,  so  that  in  their  solicitation  of  funds  as  well  as 
in  their  work  in  the  field,  they  may  act  in  as  complete  co-operation  and 
fellowship  as  possible? 

"In  inviting  these  organizations  to  give  this  new  evidence  of  their 
patriotic  co-operation,  I  wish  it  distinctly  understood  that  their  compliance 
with  this  request  will  not  in  any  sense  imply  the  surrender  on  the  part  of 
any  of  them  of  its  distinctive  character  and  autonomy,  because  I  fully  recog- 
nize the  fact  that  each  of  them  has  its  own  traditions,  principles,  and  rela- 


tionships  which  it  properly  prizes  and  which,  if  preserved  and  strengthened, 
make  possible  the  largest  service. 

"At  the  same  time,  I  would  be  obliged  if  you  would  convey  to  them  from 
me  a  very  warm  expression  of  the  Government's  appreciation  of  the  splendid 
service  they  have  rendered  in  ministering  to  the  troops  at  home  and  overseas 
in  their  leisure  time.  Through  their  agencies  the  moral  and  spiritual  resources 
of  the  nation  have  been  mobilized  behind  our  forces  and  used  in  the  finest 
way,  and  they  are  contributing  directly  and  effectively  to  the  winning  of 
the  war. 

"It  has  been  gratifying  to  find  such  a  fine  spirit  of  co-operation  among 
all  the  leaders  of  the  organizations  I  have  mentioned.  This  spirit  and  the 
patriotism  of  all  the  members  and  friends  of  these  agencies,  give  me  confi- 
dence to  believe  that  the  united  war  work  campaign  will  be  crowned  with 
abundant  success. 

"Cordially  and  sincerely  yours, 

"WooDRow  Wilson." 

II 

MEMORANDUM  OF  AGREEMENT  BETWEEN  THE 
COOPERATING  ORGANIZATIONS 
(Adopted  September  4,  1918) 

It  is  agreed  by  the  National  War  Work  Council  of  the  Young  Men's 
Christian  Associations,  the  War  Work  Council  of  the  National  Board  of 
the  Young  Women's  Christian  Associations,  the  National  Catholic  War 
Council  (Knights  of  Columbus),  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board,  the  War  Camp 
Community  Service,  the  American  Library  Association  and  the  Salvation 
Army 

1.  That  there  shall  be  a  joint  campaign  for  funds  during  the  week 
beginning  November  11,  1918. 

2.  That  by  joint  campaign  we  mean,  so  far  as  it  can  be  brought  about, 
a  campaign  undertaken  through  the  agency  of  consolidated  committees  rather 
than  seven  separate  campaigns  in  the  same  week. 

3.  That  each  society  will  adopt  a  joint  pledge  card. 

4.  That  the  committee  organization  now  installed  throughout  the 
country  for  the  collection  of  funds  be  disturbed  as  little  as  possible,  and  that 
the  policy  of  addition  rather  than  elimination  be  advised. 


5.  That  in  so  far  as  the  campaign  has  a  name  it  shall  be  called  the 
"United  War  Work  Campaign"  followed  by  the  names  of  the  seven  organiza- 
tions participating. 

6.  That  Mr.  Cleveland  H.  Dodge  be  the  national  treasurer  and  that 
the  moneys  collected  in  the  States  be  paid  to  him  for  proper  distribution 
among  the  societies. 

7.  That  all  funds  collected  be  distributed  on  a  pro  rata  basis  among 
the  seven  societies  participating  in  the  campaign;  that  is,  the  funds  received 
shall  be  divided  among  the  participating  organizations  in  such  proportion 
as  the  total  budget  of  each  organization  bears  to  the  sum  total  of  the  combined 
budgets.    The  budget  estimates  and  percentages  are  as  follows: 


National  War  Work  Council  of  the 

Young  Men's  Christian  Associations..  $1 00,000,000.. ..58.65% 
War  Work  Council  of  the  National 
Board  of  the  Young  Women's  Chris- 
tian Associations   $15,000,000....  8.80% 

National    Catholic   War  Council 

(Knights  of  Columbus)   $30,000,000....17.60% 

Jewish  Welfare  Board   $3,500,000....  2.05% 

War  Camp  Community  Service   $15,000,000....  8.80%o 

American  Library  Association   $3,500,000....  2.05% 

Salvation  Army   $3,500,000....  2.05% 


8.  That  specified  or  restricted  subscriptions  shall  not  be  asked  for,  but 
if  given,  shall  be  credited  to  the  particular  association,  such  amount  to  be 
a  part  of  the  total  and  not  an  addition  to  it. 

9.  That  the  advertising  which  each  organization  has  planned  for  it- 
self proceed  as  planned  but  that  some  advertising  be  advised  in  the  name  of 
the  United  War  Work  Campaign. 

10.  That  the  expenses  incurred  in  joint  work  in  connection  with  the 
drive  be  paid  on  a  pro  rata  basis. 

11.  That  Mr.  George  W.  Perkins  and  Dr.  John  R.  Mott  for  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association;  Mrs.  Henry  P.  Davison  for  the  Young  Women's 
Christian  Association;  Mr.  John  G.  Agar  and  Mr.  James  J.  Phelan  for  the 
National  Catholic  War  Council  (Knights  of  Columbus)  ;  Mr.  Mortimer  L. 
Schiff  for  the  Jewish  Welfare  Board;  Honorable  Myron  T.  Herrick  for  the 
War  Camp  Community  Service;  Mr.  Frank  A.  Vanderlip  for  the  American 


Library  Association ;  Mr.  George  Gordon  Battle  for  the  Salvation  Army;  and 
Mr.  John  D.  Rockefeller,  Jr.,  Chairman  of  the  Great  Union  Drive  for  New 
York  City,  and  Mr.  Cleveland  H.  Dodge  as  Treasurer  ex  officio,  act  together 
under  the  chairmanship  of  Mr.  Raymond  B.  Fosdick  of  the  Commission  on 
Training  Camp  Activities  of  the  War  Department,  or  their  alternates,  in 
settling  any  questions  between  the  seven  organizations  participating  in  this 
agreement  or  in  handling,  any  arrangements  which  have  to  be  dealt  with 
jointly,  and,  at  the  invitation  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  discuss  and  adjust 
matters  relating  to  the  work  of  the  several  organizations  which  might  involve 
duplication  in  the  expenditure  of  money  and  effort  at  home  and  abroad. 


